The Roots

Fri., March 30, 7 p.m., Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow sts.

by Neil Gladstone

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Published: Mar 27, 2007

hip-hop

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"Holding on to dignity is one of the hardest things to do in hip-hop, especially right now," says Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, drummer for The Roots. In a marketplace fascinated with gangsta caricatures and over-styled crooners, the shelf space for an admittedly "artsy-fartsy" hip-hop band ain't exactly hella-large. Though the Philly group's recent album, Game Theory (Def Jam), won't be going platinum anytime soon, its simmering, reflective and funky tracks testify that gravitas handled properly also swings. Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter's acerbic sentiments about America's age of paranoia marked his maturation as a lyricist. Perhaps reacting to the heaviness of Game Theory, Thompson has structured The Roots' recent shows to be more like upbeat revues, featuring rotating lineups of the band's current 10-member live crew. If the album and the live act don't prove it's still possible to hold on to to your dignity in today's rap scene, then hip-hop needs a triple bypass — stat.

Fri., March 30, 7 p.m., $35-$39.50, Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow sts., Upper Darby, 610-352-2887, www.livenation.com.

 

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